WELLINGTON TOPICS

Taranaki Daily News, 19 May 1919, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE PEACE CONFERENCE. (Special Correspondent) Wellington, key Jy. At the moment it looks as if the return of Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward to the Domiuion might bo seriously de- i laved by the latest developments at Versailles. Though the presence of the two New Zealand Ministers in Paris may not be absolutely esential to the conclusion of a satisfactory peace it probably is of more consequence just now tlmn it has been at any other stage of the negotiations. The attitude of the German plenipotentiaries may be jmere blul!', without tlip least intention of persistence behind it, but it is conceivable . (t may lead to a review of the Conference'.l; determination in regard to the disposition of the German colonies. In that case the stiffening given to the Bri- ■ tisji representatives by Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward on ft previous ocoasiotl, again would be highly desirable in the interests of this part of the Empire, THE MINISTERS THEMSELVES. It may be gathered from the party leaders' communications to their colleagues and to their intimate friends that they both are anxious to return to New Zealand as speedily as possible. London and Paris and the beaten track between the two great cities are the limits placed upon their observations and their social diversions, and even London and Paris after 41 vears of war's alarms are not what they were in the piping days of peace. But apart from all this it is evident both the Mill-, istera would like to bo in closer association with their political friends than they can be at the other end of the world. The general assumption here today is that they will not be able to leave for home before the middle of ' August and may not reach Wellington till the end of October. IMPATIENT FOLLOWERS. Meanwhile their followers are becom- " ing increasingly restless. When the party leaders left, for London they did not expect to be back later than the end of June. This would have given them with four or five months in which to hold a short session of Parliament, to dissolve the party trace and to preparo for the general election. Now they may have no more than a couple of months ir. which to accomplish all these riilny and their followers aro viewing the situation * With genuino alarm. A section of the Reformers already are in half revolt, de- , $ manding a sound progressive policy thmt • i Will satisfy their constituents, "dish the Whigs" ami bring them back trU umphantly from the polls, S4b< erals are to hold a cauois -j mainly, it would seem, to t"' where they stand, «ad ths Welfare '"-i League is locking